I saw his text before I saw him, just like every other day. It seems like Ademide's mission this time around is to frustrate the hell out of me by being everywhere and all around him. After that morning that he came to my house, and I told him to stay away from me, I thought he would, but it looked like what Ademide heard was 'follow me around.''

The first thing that wakes me up in the morning now is a knock from a delivery man, and immediately I take a step out of my house, he's there, waiting for me. I would pretend not to see him there, but the idiot would still greet me with a stupid smile. As though he was monitoring me, he was always waiting for me at the department whenever I was done with classes and rehearsals around six in the evening. I thought ignoring him would make him stop this stupid charade, but it didn't work. He's been at this silly game for almost two weeks now.

Who on Earth stalks a girl that much?

Does he not have a job to do?

But if he thinks that I'm going to fall for his tricks, then he has another one coming.

I looked up from the text that told me he was waiting for me and hissed in annoyance. My friends stopped their discussion and gave me a knowing look, understanding that Mr. Stalker was around. Thankfully, they haven't questioned me so far, its as if they knew I wasn't ready to say anything yet. So they always try as much as possible to act normal whenever he was around, and ignore him also.

I quickened my steps immediately. I saw him standing beside his car and pretended not to notice him.

"You're really going to continue ignoring me," he called after me in a frustrated voice.

I wanted to yell back at him so much that it was really fun doing so, but I controlled myself. Actually, it was no fun at all. Every time I see him, I still can't help but feel elated at his sight, then realization would set in, mocking me. The more I see, the more I wanted to actually believe that he didn't just want to play games with me, atleast no one would stalk a girl so much just for some sick games, but I couldn't give in yet. He ignored me for over five months, avoiding my calls, text, and emails. Let's see how that feels to him now.

I brought out my earpiece and plugged it in without playing any music, then waved down a cab. "Stella, let's go." I motioned to Stella, then turned to Ejiro and Martha. "See you guys at the gate."

I quickly got in while Stella, Ejiro, and Martha stood looking at me in wonder before finally making a move. Stella joined me on the cab while Martha waved down a second one. We had to go separately since my school was still trying to maintain social distancing, so we can only have two people in a cab.

"Mary, you've got big issues," Stella said in a slightly angry voice.

"Why do you say so?"

"Isn't it about time you stop all this tantrum and actually give this guy a chance," she said.

"You can say this because you don't have any idea what happened," I retorted, defending myself.

"I don't know because you didn't tell me, I thought we were friends, but I didn't even know anyone by his name existed." Stella threw back at me, accusation lacing her tone. "I really don't like the way you're treating the guy. He's been following you around for the past two weeks now. Why don't you stop being stubborn. Just give him a chance and listen to what he has to say."

"That's because he has nothing to say," I snapped, trying my best not to listen to that part of my heart that wanted to really listen to him even if he was going to tell lies. "I gave him a chance once, I asked him to tell me the reasons he did that, but he said nothing. And if he does have something to say, I'm sure they are all lies, and I don't want to listen to them. It's obvious he doesn't think much of him."

"Well, as you said, I don't know anything, and I can only deduce my meaning from what I've seen happen. And it looks to me like you're just toying with the guy," Stella said, then brought out her phone. "Okay, he ghosted you for months, now he's back. If he was someone who didn't really like you, he wouldn't be back."

"If he was someone who really did like me, he wouldn't ghost me, then come back without providing me with a good reason for his actions," I stated.

"Gosh, talking to you is so frustrating!" Stella exclaimed, then turned to her phone.

I folded my arms over my chest in annoyance, thinking about everything she had just said. Would it really be wise to give stop ignoring him, knowing myself I'd probably fall for his charms again without caring about what trap he could have laid underneath. Just one look at him. I almost always forget and want to wrap my arms around him just to feel his warmth once again. Why does he have to be so Ademide that he always ends up making me want him this way.

I placed a hand on my chest to ease down the pain I felt there. Loving a person was really hard.

Wait, what?

I must be going crazy, or maybe I wasn't. It was about time I stopped lying to myself and reassuring myself that love doesn't exist. It does exist, and it hurt like hell. The first few months without him made me realize just how much I had grown to love him. Several months of not seeing him didn't do anything to thaw down these feelings, nothing could, not even seeing him again and realizing just how little I meant to him.

So this is the reason why I mustn't listen to him anymore, no matter what anyone might say. I'm the one who knows just how much my heart would tear when it all finally goes down.

I Stella and I didn't say anything much to each other until we got to the school gate and said our bye to Ejiro and Martha. Even then, we didn't say anything to ourselves. I didn't even know what to justify my anger with. Coming from her perspective, she was probably right. So I couldn't blame her for not knowing everything and feeling everything I felt right now.

She did deserve to know, though, every single thing that happened between I and Ademide, she was the closest friend I had at school. And let's not forget the fact that the lingerie I was wearing the day I and Ademide first had sex was a gift from her.

It wasn't until we got to our house junction that she finally spoke to me.

"Are we going to your place to finish the assignment or my place?" She asked in a bored tone.

"Your place," I said without thinking about it. I can't deny the fact that I enjoyed spending time at her place.

"Okay." She turned and started heading home, but that didn't stop me from seeing the silly smile that came across her face.

I smiled as I followed behind her. Staying angry with her had never been possible for me to do. There were two people I couldn't stay angry with in their world. One was Aisha, and the other was Stella.

******

"Goodnight, call me when you get home," Stella called behind me as I stepped out of her house.

"I will," I promised, even though I knew I wouldn't. She knew I wouldn't too, but she says that every time I'm leaving her place at night and I had refused to spend the night.

It's not like her place was far from mine, just three minutes walk, and I would have gotten to my destination. Considering the fact that Agbowo was usually dangerous at night, I shouldn't even be out by this time, but what harm could come to me? I've walked this same road at night so many times.

I wrapped the scarf I stole from Stella around my head and neck because I didn't want to stand out in the street at night all because of my hair color. I quickened my steps, not sparing a glance at my surroundings.

Yeah, that was the drill.

Look straight ahead, hasten your steps, and in no time, you'd be home. It's always turns out that way.

Or it used to, until now.

I hastened my steps, pretending not to notice the hooded figure following behind me so as not to alert him to my knowledge. All I had to do was get out of this hollow and dark street, then voila I would be at my house. As I continued walking, I couldn't help but glance at my back to see if I was still being followed. And when I saw the person so close behind me, I broke into a run, my heart hammering in my chest.

But I guess I was too late because the next thing I felt was strong arms around my waist and a clothe being pressed against my face. The only thought that was on my mind as I drifted into oblivion was that I should have just stayed at Stella's place.

So this is how I die.

Hmm. What just happened?

I believe our Mary just got kidnapped.

Let's gather here and pray for her.

See ya later, guys.

MARY ADEN